Page 120 of Indecent Ventures

Darian looks at me. “Any news?”

I shake my head. “Carter and Lance just got here. Reagan is far along. She should go any minute. Skylar a little after. Both will be soon though.”

My father looks at me sitting in Collin’s lap with disgust. He starts to roll up his sleeves. “Fitz, I won’t tell you this again. Keep your hands off my daughter. Get your pervert ass up so I can kick it again.”

I stand and place my hand on his chest. “Dad, cut it out. Don’t even think about touching him again. I love him. We’re going to be together. Get over it. I’m not a child.”

He jerks his body toward Collin’s, but that’s the last thing I remember before everything goes dark.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

JADE

Ipeel my eyes open. My lids are so heavy. I feel like I swallowed a bag of cotton.

I look around. I’m in a hospital bed attached to a bunch of beeping machines. I see my father sitting in a chair. Melissa is in the chair next to him running her fingers up and down his arm in a soothing manner.

I turn my head to the other side of the room. I see Collin and my mother sitting together holding hands. Both of their heads are down. She’s rubbing his back. She seems to be consoling him. It occurs to me at that moment that they’re only a few years apart.

I croak out, “Collin?”

All their heads jerk up. All have clearly been crying.

They stand and make their way to me. Mom takes one hand while Dad sits next to her. Collin crawls into bed with me. He slides his arm under me and pulls me to his chest. It’s like Lance was with Skylar. It’s incredibly intimate and comforting.

I look around. “What’s happening?”

Collin says, “You’ve been asleep for a year.”

In a deep voice, Dad warns, “Collin.”

Mom shakes her head. “We don’t know. You passed out in the hallway about ninety minutes ago. Thank god Collin caught you, or you could have injured yourself. He called me to get here. He and your father have been yelling and screaming at the staff since I got here. They won’t tell us anything. They said you’d wake up in a bit and they’d only talk to you directly since you’re not a minor and not married.”

I realize Melissa left. She returns a moment later with a woman who’s wearing a lab coat. I assume she’s my doctor.

The woman smiles. “There she is. I’m Dr. Cantor. You gave everyone quite a scare. Your father and boyfriend have been making everyone crazy. They’re quite a team.”

I let out a laugh. “A team?”

Dad rolls his eyes.

Dr. Cantor continues, “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’m hungover, but I’m not. Thirsty as fuck.”

I can feel Collin laughing. He reaches for a cup and helps me get in a few sips of water.

I look at the doctor. “What’s going on? What’s wrong with me?”

She looks around at all the people. “I need to speak with you. Perhaps we should do it alone.”

“Whatever it is, you can say it in front of them.”

She nods as she flips through a file.

“Please. Tell me what’s wrong with me? Just spit it out.”

My mind is running through every terrible thing that could be wrong with me.

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